Testing, Testing, 1,2,3
Last month, my Superintendent’s Message
addressed the new Smarter Balanced tests which are currently being administered to our CUSD
students in grades 3 through 8 and 11. In addition to Smarter Balanced exams
there are several other assessments that your students might be required to
take.
The Smarter Balanced tests are only one
part of the California Assessment of Student Performance
and Progress (CAASPP).
Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 will also be taking the paper-pencil California Standards Tests (CSTs) in Science.
May is also AP Testing Month. The College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program exposes students to college-level coursework, and they can
earn college credit while still in high school. Taking AP courses demonstrates
to college admission officers that students have sought the most challenging
curriculum available. Research shows that students who score a 3 or higher on
an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are
more likely to earn a degree than non-AP students.
In 2014, Carlsbad Unified School
District was one of 547 school districts
in the U.S. and Canada named by the College Board to the 5th
Annual District Honor Roll for increasing
the number of students who take Advance Placement (AP) courses while also maintaining passing scores. Eighty-five percent of CUSD students
who took one or more AP exams last year earned scores of 3 or higher.
Additionally,
all high school students must pass the California High School Exit Exam
(CAHSEE) to earn a high school diploma. The test helps ensure that students
graduate from with grade level skills in reading, writing, and math. Students
begin taking the CAHSEE in 10th grade. If they do not pass, they may
retake the test annually through their senior year.
Finally, state law requires that second language
learners take a proficiency exam called the California English
Language Development Test (CELDT). The
CELDT was developed to identify students with limited English proficiency and
assess their ability to speak, read, and write in English.
These assessments can be stressful for teachers and
students. The requirements can also be onerous. However, state academic
standards continue to focus more on the critical skills needed to prepare
students for college and the world of work. Our communities throughout the
region continue to demand higher levels of accountability.
In CUSD we are committed to providing both a rigorous
and meaningful learning environment that readies students for whatever their
future may bring.
